back
Media Contact: Seema Singh 414-469-9206; seemasingh@gmail.com
Milwaukee-At 9AM June 11, 2010, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents announced their endorsement of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. In a letter to key members of the US Senate Judiciary Committee, Regents asked for support for the immediate passage of the DREAM Act.
"This is a good first step," says Josy Perez, a recent graduate of Milwaukee's Riverside High School. She is a member of Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES), the student arm of Voces de la Frontera, which advocates for the DREAM Act. "The board's support gives students a reason to keep hoping. A lot of people who would otherwise be stuck with no job following college would have opportunities with the DREAM Act. In today's economy if you don't have a college education it is difficult. We can't continue to ignore the presence of these students."
The DREAM Act is a bipartisan piece of legislation that would create access to student loans and a conditional path to citizenship for undocumented students through their studies or military service. In a statement to the public, Board of Regents member Jose Vasquez related his own immigration story and the opportunities he and his family obtained by becoming US citizens.
"The DREAM Act is also about the United States of America which embraces the intelligence, creativity, skills and talents of all its populace," said Vasquez, "The richness of this country was not solely built by native born citizens. It is built by individuals living here regardless of where they were born, whether they are citizens or not. It does not matter if you are white or black or Latino or what your race or ethnicity is. The only thing that matters is the desire to build a future and in turn benefit this country. The DREAM Act will allow these young men and women to build their future here and make significant contributions to this country."
According to the National Immigration Law Center, approximately 65,000 U.S. high school graduates face significant barriers to college each year because of their immigration status. In the letter the Regents state: "That's 65,000 people who might otherwise use their college education to contribute to our nation's economic resurgence. By allowing these roadblocks to remain, we are ignoring an untapped source of talent."
This endorsement of the DREAM Act comes just one month after 500 students marched from Riverside High School to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in support of the DREAM Act. One of their demands was a system wide endorsement of the DREAM Act. "It is good to see that our demands were heard and acted upon" remarks Perez, "Now it's time for congress to do the same."
University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents Endorse DREAM Act
June 11, 2010Media Contact: Seema Singh 414-469-9206; seemasingh@gmail.com
Milwaukee-At 9AM June 11, 2010, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents announced their endorsement of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. In a letter to key members of the US Senate Judiciary Committee, Regents asked for support for the immediate passage of the DREAM Act.
"This is a good first step," says Josy Perez, a recent graduate of Milwaukee's Riverside High School. She is a member of Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES), the student arm of Voces de la Frontera, which advocates for the DREAM Act. "The board's support gives students a reason to keep hoping. A lot of people who would otherwise be stuck with no job following college would have opportunities with the DREAM Act. In today's economy if you don't have a college education it is difficult. We can't continue to ignore the presence of these students."
The DREAM Act is a bipartisan piece of legislation that would create access to student loans and a conditional path to citizenship for undocumented students through their studies or military service. In a statement to the public, Board of Regents member Jose Vasquez related his own immigration story and the opportunities he and his family obtained by becoming US citizens.
"The DREAM Act is also about the United States of America which embraces the intelligence, creativity, skills and talents of all its populace," said Vasquez, "The richness of this country was not solely built by native born citizens. It is built by individuals living here regardless of where they were born, whether they are citizens or not. It does not matter if you are white or black or Latino or what your race or ethnicity is. The only thing that matters is the desire to build a future and in turn benefit this country. The DREAM Act will allow these young men and women to build their future here and make significant contributions to this country."
According to the National Immigration Law Center, approximately 65,000 U.S. high school graduates face significant barriers to college each year because of their immigration status. In the letter the Regents state: "That's 65,000 people who might otherwise use their college education to contribute to our nation's economic resurgence. By allowing these roadblocks to remain, we are ignoring an untapped source of talent."
This endorsement of the DREAM Act comes just one month after 500 students marched from Riverside High School to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in support of the DREAM Act. One of their demands was a system wide endorsement of the DREAM Act. "It is good to see that our demands were heard and acted upon" remarks Perez, "Now it's time for congress to do the same."
Myths & Facts
Myth: The United States cannot absorb present immigrant numbers
Fact: 11.5% of the U.S. population is foreign-born today. At the start of the last century it was 15%. Previous waves of immigrants were met with
suspicion, too, yet all of them are now saluted for the contributions they have made.
Get more of the facts >>
NEWSPAPER
- Obama and Health Care Reform:
- March for Labor Day:
- September 6
